Australia is set to sign a defence deal with the Philippines to bolster its navy and coastguard.
The Philippines has been at the frontline of efforts by US allies to counter China's "aggression" in the South China Sea.
Australia and the Philippines are on the cusp of signing a major defence cooperation agreement, as tensions continue to flare between the Philippines and China over control of the highly strategic South China Sea.
The agreement, which is set to be signed on Sunday as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with senior Philippines officials on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila, is expected to expand reciprocal military access and information sharing, as well as bolster the Philippine Navy and coastguard.
It comes as an informal defence bloc of four nations — Australia, the United States, the Philippines and Japan — nicknamed "the Squad", looks to bolster the Philippines' defensive capability and carry out more military exercises, in an attempt to counter China's maritime influence in the South and East China seas.
Top defence officials met in Cebu last month, and on Tuesday revealed the Squad would set up a Combined Coordination Centre that would likely serve as a joint hub to build the capacity of the country's navy and coastguard.